Research and Innovation Office

Extramural Coordinated Funding


UM Submission Instructions: Innovation for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems 2024

Sponsor: AGCO Agriculture Foundation (AGCO)
Award Title: Innovation for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems
Amount: $400,000 - $450,000
AGCO will award grants of $400,000 – $450,000 over a three-year project duration to support one or more projects.
UM Deadline: 11/01/2024
Sponsor Deadline: 11/29/2024
Description: Purpose
This grant call seeks to receive proposals from nonprofits with a thematic focus to support the next generation of leaders in agriculture helping them to develop innovative solutions for agri-food systems.

AGCO invites proposals from nonprofit organizations to support the next generation of leaders in agriculture, helping them to develop innovative solutions for agri-food systems. Proposed programs should aim to support young people aged 18-40 years to innovate and accelerate their high-impact ideas, solutions, technology innovations and agribusiness startups to deliver sustainable agri-food systems. The innovation program for sustainable agri-food systems should target at least one of the following areas: digital agriculture, climate resilience, capacity development, market efficiency, energy for food systems, and lastly, food innovations.

The grant application will prioritize proposals seeking to establish a new program but also consider grant proposals that seek to build on an existing program.

Target population:
Program implementation must target next-gen within the age bracket of 18-40 years, including young farmers, youth leaders, small and medium-sized enterprises owned by younger persons.

Budget
-AGCO will award grants of $400,000 – $450,000 over a three-year project duration to support one or more projects.
-Limitations: 70% of grant funds go directly towards the program’s activities, while 30% are for administrative support.
-Proposing nonprofits must also ensure that project activities and the participating youth receive appropriate funding prizes and support during the innovation challenge.

Application process & timeline
-Funder Deadline: applications due by November 29, 2024
-notification will be made by February 2025
Number of Applicants University is Allowed to submit: 1
Additional Requirements: None
Sponsor Guidelines: https://www.agcofoundation.org/grants.html
UM Nominations Process: This funding opportunity is being coordinated by the University of Minnesota Foundation.
Please contact Mindy Breva at mindyb@umn.edu for more information.
Peer Review Coordination: University of Minnesota Foundation contact email
Status: The internal deadline has passed but no applicants were selected. Please contact the office coordinating the peer review for more information.
Please note: To be considered for peer review and internal selection, faculty must follow the above submission guidelines and meet the UM deadline as set by the office coordinating the peer review for this opportunity.



General Information

  • Each posting has information about the external sponsor and opportunity as well as the internal application instructions.
  • Opportunities can be sorted by column headings; just click on the heading to re-sort by that column.
  • When a link redirects you to another site, it opens in a new browser window.
  • If you know of an opportunity that is not on the list, please contact Robyn Kennedy.
Column Descriptions

  • Sponsor: redirects you to the sponsor's main website
  • Title/Guidelines: redirects you to sponsor specific information regarding the opportunity which may include description, eligibility, budget instructions, forms and other requirements
  • Amount: Maximum dollar amount awarded.
  • Add’l Req: Identifies special requirements such as cost sharing, partners, etc.
  • Sponsor Deadline: External deadline identified by the sponsor.
  • UM Submission Instructions: Contains specific internal submission requirements including internal proposal instructions, deadline, eligibility, internal nomination process, contact information.
  • # Apps: The maximum number of applications the sponsor will allow the university to submit.
  • UM Deadline: Submission deadline for internal proposal as determined by the coordinating office.
  • Status:
    • Open: UM deadline has not passed and the opportunity is open for application.
    • In Review: Peer review process is in progress for the opportunity.
    • PI Selected: The PI has been selected as the official UM nominee.
    • Closed: Sponsor deadline has passed and the opportunity is closed for application.
U of M Submission Instructions (Required)

This link includes summary sponsor information, specific instructions for internal submission and contact information for the university office coordinating the nomination process.

  • Follow the directions in the submission instructions and submit required materials by the UM deadline to the contact indicated.
  • Instructions vary according to the requirements of the sponsor and the university office coordinating the nomination process.
Registration (optional)

Registration is an optional but highly recommended feature. Perhaps you are looking for a wider audience for your proposal idea, or for potential collaborators to work with to create a stronger application. Registration allows applicants to share proposal ideas and post contact information.

Registration also provides information that helps the university office overseeing the nomination to determine the level of coordination needed and guide the review process.

To register (or view registrants), click on the UM Submission Instructions for a specific opportunity, then click on the Register Interest link.

Selection Process

  • Once the internal deadline has passed, the status will change to “In Review” and proposals will undergo review.
  • If there are multiple applicants, the office managing the nomination will determine the review criteria and coordinate the review process.
  • Once review has been completed all parties will be notified via email.
  • Nominees will be provided with a letter addressed to the sponsor from the RIO indicating that they are the university's nominee. This letter should accompany the nominee's proposal.
  • SPA is notified of the university's nominee(s) and the status is updated to “PI Selected”.


*If you have questions about the University's process related to extramural funding opportunities requiring nomination or if you have any technical issues with the site, contact collabor8@umn.edu.

For questions, please contact RIO's Research Advancement group.